Vernante, Town in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy
Vernante is a small town in the Province of Cuneo, in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, set among the valleys of the Maritime Alps. Its streets are narrow, lined with stone houses, and covered in murals that cover the facades of many buildings throughout the town center.
Vernante developed over centuries as a stopping point for travelers and traders crossing the Alpine valleys between the coast and the plains of Piedmont. In the 20th century, the arrival of illustrator Attilio Mussino, who lived there from 1944 until his death in 1954, changed the identity of the town permanently.
In Vernante, the outside walls of many houses are covered with colorful murals showing scenes from the Pinocchio story. Walking through the streets feels like following a storybook, with images of Geppetto, the Blue Fairy, and the Talking Cricket appearing on walls around every corner.
The town is best explored on foot, as the streets are narrow and parking in the center is limited. Visiting the small museum dedicated to Attilio Mussino before walking through the streets gives useful context for understanding the murals.
The first mural in Vernante was painted in July 1954, just weeks after Attilio Mussino died, when residents decided to transfer his Pinocchio illustrations directly onto the walls of their houses as a tribute. The collection has grown to over 150 works since then, making the town one of the largest outdoor exhibitions devoted to the Pinocchio story.
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